"The reality is we're going to be the underdog," Fickell said Tuesday, speaking at his weekly press conference at UC. "What does that tell you? Just focus in on the things we've got to do, and understand that this is going to be a battle. This is going to be our toughest test yet."

Temple (4-3, 3-0 American Athletic Conference East) has won four of its last five games. The Owls will play host to UC (6-0, 2-0 AAC East) on Saturday at noon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with ESPN2 televising nationally.

UC comes off a bye week. Temple won 24-17 at Navy last Saturday, on the heels of a 49-6 Owls win over East Carolina.

The Bearcats' Strength of Schedule is ranked 108th nationally by Football Outsiders, while Temple's is 92nd. The Bearcats have risen in the two major polls (20th by AP, 21st by USA Today) partially because of other ranked teams having suffered upsets.

Fickell is aware of all that, and said the Bearcats try to block all that out and concentrate on the task at hand.

"From the beginning of the year on, you can't put a whole lot of stock on whether they negatively say you're gonna be last in the league or negatively say something here or there," Fickell said. "Or all of a sudden, start positively saying those things. We've talked about that, and the ability to handle both praise and criticism."

Temple is led by second-year coach Geoff Collins, a former Florida defensive coordinator. The Owls, like UC, have hung their hats on defense. UC is No. 4 and Temple is No. 27 nationally in total defense. Temple scored at least one non-offensive touchdown in their first six games before the Navy game.

Offensively, UC is 27th and Temple just 89th nationally in total offense. Running back Ryqell Armstead leads Temple with 626 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, but he missed the Navy game because of a lower leg injury. Armstead reportedly is questionable for this week's game.

Owls quarterback Anthony Russo has thrown for 1,173 yards and six touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Owls defensive end Michael Dogbe has recorded 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss, with two forced fumbles.

"This is as athletic of a team that we have played," Fickell said.

TEMPLE HEX: Temple has beaten UC three years in a row, something that is not lost on Bearcats senior defensive tackle Cortez Broughton.

"They're a great team, obviously a tough opponent, and we've got to prepare like we've never prepared before," Broughton said. "They're tough and nasty and they finish through the whistle."

Temple's recent three wins over UC have been by an average margin of 13.3 points.

"Let's not talk about it," Broughton said, smiling. "Obviously you've got that in the back of your head, but at the same time you just come out and do your best."

BYE WEEK: Fickell reflected on how UC spent the bye week.

"We gave them off for most of the weekend," Fickell said. "It's not like you heal up. It's not like (center) Garrett Campbell's (broken) ankle is going to heal up just because you were off for 2 1/2 or three days. But, the ability to get away, to kind of get away, kind of refresh you mind and your spirit a little bit."

NOTEWORTHY: UC ranks No. 3 nationally in scoring defense at 13.7 points per game, trailing only Mississippi State (12.7) and Fresno State (13.5).

- Broughton has 5.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss this season, surpassing his career totals entering 2018 of 3.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

- Michael Warren II is on pace to become the first UC 1,000-yard rusher since George Winn gained 1,334 yards in 2012. Warren has 664 yards at the season's midway point. His 11 rushing TDs are also the most by a UC rusher since Winn had 13 in 2012.

- According to SportSource Analytics, 69 percent of UC opponent drives have been non-scoring drives that did not cross midfield. That is the highest percentage at the FBS level this season.